High Stepping and High Jumping at the 2012 Alltech National Horse Show
Sunday, August 19, 2012
The Alltech National Horse Show announced that this year's show has added a variety of exhilarating American Saddlebred events to the agenda for the 2012 show, joining the top flight show jumpers and world-class hunters classes already on the schedule.
Following a successful debut last year, the second edition of the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky, is set for October 30 through November 4, 2012. The show will once again be held at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The Saddlebred Horse division at the Alltech National Horse Show will feature four sections: Amateur and Open classes for Five and Three Gaited Horses, Fine Harness Horses and Amateur classes for Three Gaited Park Horses.
In addition to those Saddlebred classes, in what should be a tremendous crowd pleasing favorite, the dynamic Roadster Horses will compete in one electrifying class for a huge prize money jackpot in the $25,000 Equine Services Roadster Cup sponsored by Walsh Harness and Equine Services LLC.
"High stepping and high jumping in Lexington!" said an animated National Horse Show Association President, Mason Phelps, Jr. "We are very excited about the American Saddlebreds returning to the National Horse Show. This is just another giant step forward in recreating the amazing excitement of the days of the National in New York. Part of the magic in those days was the variety of Show Jumping and the Saddlebreds, all in one session at the show," he said.
In addition to excellent prize money, many of the legendary and fancy old trophies from the days of the National Horse Show in New York will be up for grabs for the Saddlebreds at this year's Alltech National Horse Show.
Misdee Miller, a fourth-generation horsewoman, who drives carriages and is a top Saddlebred competitor, riding out of Hillcroft, her Bourbon County, Kentucky horse farm, has been a major force behind the Saddlebreds returning to the Alltech National Horse Show. "I am thrilled that the American Saddlebreds will once again be part of the grand tradition of the ANHS. It is a show that is special and unique in that it combines top competition in a glamorous setting, and now that it is set to go in the heart of Saddlebred country, it will attract some of best horses and riders in the country who will be in top form for a great audience," she said.
James LaHood, coordinator of the Saddlebred competition, comes to the Alltech National Horse Show after previously managing the famed Lexington Junior League Horse Show for twenty-one years and for the past thirty-two years has managed the much celebrated Eastern States Exposition. LaHood is excited about the return of the American Saddlebred to the National. "The Saddlebred horses will go a long way in increasing national recognition with the inclusion of the their classes at the Alltech National Horse Show."
Last year's Alltech National Horse Show closed with great excitement, receiving unanimous approval from the horse show community. The Show was a great success with the thousands of attendees, in addition to nearly half a million viewers who watched the events unfold online.
More than 560 horses and 350 riders from nine countries, including nine Olympic veterans competed last year.
"With bigger prize money, an extra competition day and these exciting new classes," Phelps said, "we are very optimistic about the future."
The 2012 Alltech National Horse Show takes center stage on October 30 through November 4, 2012 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. In addition to the top rated hunters and the ASPCA Maclay National Championship, the show features world-class international, open, junior and amateur-owner jumpers competing for the biggest prize money on the United States indoor tour.
Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America's oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National Horse Show Association's primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over the years, the National Horse Show has provided financial aid to many worthwhile charities.
For more information on the National Horse Show Association of America, Limited, please visit www.nhs.org.
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